Hey there campers and welcome to my post where I reveal my three best lightweight backpacking tents to hike with this year. Hiking and backpacking is a popular pastime for many campers meaning that they are generally carrying everything they need with them. This means that they not only need to be light in weight, but also hold the ability to protect us from the elements and unexpected rough weather as well.
In choosing the right tent, the initial challenge before us is sifting through a near-infinite selection available on the market today so let’s see if we can make things a little easier below…
My 3 recommended lightweight backpacking tents
I will review these in more detail below, but if you just want to get moving without all the carry-on, my three are listed here for your convenience:
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What are backpacking tents?
Backpacking, or hiking tents are made to be light and straightforward to set up and deconstruct making them popular with backpackers and short-stay campers alike. Some hiking tents are self-supporting, while others have heavy-duty guy ropes, tent poles, and other gear to support them in high altitudes where the weather can be a bit wilder.
Hiking tents are made of ultralight nylon or Ripstop polyester that flexes and stretches in response to the weather. These materials are waterproof and wind-resistant, allowing hikers relax regardless of the weather. They are also built to lay close to the ground to prevent heavy winds and are primarily built for sleeping rather than daytime relaxation.
Check out these: 3 Best Mountaineering Tents
What Should You Be Looking For?
As with most outdoor gear, reducing weight in a tent design will result in some sacrifice, most often in the form of reduced durability, interior space, weather protection, or ventilation. Because performance does not decrease with weight uniformly (some tents sacrifice liveability while others sacrifice durability), it is essential to consider your priorities when purchasing a tent. With that in mind, below are some of the main factors you should take into account as you shop for lightweight backpacking tents:
- Weight
- Interior space
- Durability
- Weather protection
- Ventilation
- Door
- Price and value
- Additions
Weight
As these tents are by design used to backpacking and hiking, serious attention should be given to their weight. You do not want your hiking tent to weigh you down in your backpack whilst your hands are full of trekking poles, making your journey that little bit harder and potentially less enjoyable. The lighter you can get with the right qualities as below, then better.
Interior space
In general, the floor area of a tent decreases as the weight decreases, and some two-person tents can get quite cozy with two adults and gear inside. Noteworthy also is that some tents taper at the foot end, which helps save weight and makes them more streamlined but also reduces sleeping space making it uncomfortable if you want to sleep head-to-toe.
Durability
To inform you of the product’s durability, some manufacturers will measure resilience via a “denier” rating. While quality and construction type are important considerations, a lower denier rating generally indicates a thinner and less durable fabric. The denier measurement of the tent usually applies to the floor, canopy, and rainfly because these are more susceptible to wear and tear.
Weather protection
During heavy rain, the tent’s rainfly is your main line of defence. As the name implies, the rainfly protects the exposed tent parts from precipitation, wind, and cold. Even ultralight designs use a waterproof coating, are seam-taped, and able to withstand hours of rain without allowing water to enter your tent. A good hiking tent is one where the rainfly covers the entire body.
Ventilation
Due to the fact that in most cases, you will not be carrying extras such as a camping fan, airflow is usually managed via the tent’s ventilation system. This includes the addition of such options as mesh windows or panels and adjustable rainfly vents as they allow you to improve the airflow to prevent condensation from forming inside. The ability to roll up rainfly doors or panels can also help with ventilation.
Doors
If the tent will only house a single person, a one-door type would be practical however two-door tents are a good option for more than one. The advantages here are that each person can manage their own ventilation via their own door as well as not needing to walk over each other to leave the tent.
Price and value
Backpacking equipment can be costly. As a result, it is understandable that cost is considered when looking for the best backpacking tent. This is especially true if you are just starting to backpack for the first time or irregularly go on camping trips. A low-cost tent is an excellent choice; however, keep in mind that a low-cost tent could sacrifice quality and weight.
Additions
Other potential additions include
- Storage -There are two types of tent storage: vestibules and gear closets outside the tent and pockets inside the tent body for small items you need close at hand.
- Setup and take down – Most tents are simple to set up: lay out your footprint, stake out the corners, attach the poles, and clip everything together. However, some contain all in one connected poles etc. that simply ‘pop up’ once the tent is opened.
- Rainfly – This refers to the cover of your tent, protecting it from harsh elements such as rain, snow, and strong winds.
- Tent poles and stakes – Usually made from aluminum, tent poles and stakes are integral to your hiking tent. Common for two-person tents to have six stakes: one for each corner and one for each side of the vestibule. When bad weather or strong winds hit, guy lines become necessary to secure your hiking enclosures.
- Carry bag – This enables you to secure the tent, along with its accompanying parts, and carry it with ease as you cover your hiking route.
- Emergency repair kit – Some manufacturers include this in their products. Such kits are used to repair pole breakages that may occur during your hiking adventures.
My three recommendations broken down
So based on the information above and my own experience, I recommend the following options:
1. BISINNA 2 Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent
My first recommendation meets your hiking tent requirements: water-resistant, windproof, waterproof, lightweight, and has a full-body rainfly. This hiking tent will do very well if you decide to hike during summer, fall or spring and although it is categorized as a 2-person tent, it is freestanding meaning it can be set up by a single hiker as well. See its specifications below:
- Brand: BISINNA
- Weight: 4.72 pounds
- Installation type: Freestanding
- Occupancy: 2 persons
- Seasons: 3 Seasons (Autumn, Summer, Spring)
- Composition: Inner tent – 190T Polyester Taffeta+B3 No-see-um Mesh; Rainfly – PU2000mm water-resistant 190T Polyester Taffeta
- Dimensions: 102.2 x 82.7 x 47.2 (H) inches (packed 16.9”x5.9”x5.9”)
Other inclusions:
- Aluminum tent pegs
- Wind ropes
- Carry bag
- Folding aluminum poles
- Internal pockets
Why have I chosen it?
This product’s ample space and sturdy frame provide a convenient environment for two people, making this ideal for couples. It can even accommodate an air mattress and a sleeping bag. It is extremely durable and at just 4.72lbs, it is incredibly light and easily fits into the carry bag, allowing you to hit the trails without weight issues and not using much space in your pack.
2. Clostnature 1-Person Tent for Backpacking
If you are the type who likes to hike solo, this product is well worth a look. It is designed for backpacking so its weight of 3.7 pounds is negligible with weatherproof material and factory-sealed seams will prevent any water leakages when the rain comes down hard. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Clostnature
- Weight: 3.7 pounds
- Installation type: Freestanding
- Occupancy: 1 person
- Seasons: 4 Seasons
- Composition: Waterproof PU5000 rated 210T Polyester rainfly & tent
- Dimensions: 7’3” x 2’8” x 3′ (packed 15”x5”x5”)
Other inclusions:
- Vestibule
- Flysheet
- Emergency repair kit
- Carry bag
- Aluminum poles and stakes
- D-shaped door
- Lifetime warranty for material and workmanship defects
Why have I chosen it?
This solo tent is ideal for warm and cold trekking activities and is extremely sturdy and weatherproof. Although manufactured for a solo hiker, the space inside is still roomy where you can still move around. With two ventilation windows on the flysheet, the inner tent’s entire mesh wall creates superb ventilation and insect protection as well.
3. Featherstone Lightweight Backpacking Tent
The last item on my list is an excellent investment for backpacking aficionados thanks to its top-tier materials and durable, lightweight, and breathable design. Suited for couples, the tent is conveniently designed with two doors and two vestibules for ample camping gear storage. The versatility is also noteworthy since it adapts to three seasons (summer, fall, and spring) making it perfect for most conditions. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Featherstone
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Installation type: Freestanding
- Occupancy: 2 person
- Seasons: 3 Seasons
- Composition: 75-denier Ripstop Polyester with 3000mm polyurethane hydrostatic rated coating
- Dimensions: 84 x 51 inches
Other inclusions:
- Aluminum stakes
- Reflective guy line rope
- Rainfly and poles
- Lifetime warranty
Why have I chosen it?
If you seek a durable hiking tent with no weight issues, you can not go wrong with this last item. Although it is ultralight, the seam-taped construction creates an impenetrable rain barrier preventing leakage and its bathtub floor design elevates the tent’s undermost part to keep you dry on wet grounds. A great option for hiking in most terrains and conditions.
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$79.99
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$109.99
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Conclusion
There you have it, my three best lightweight backpacking tents to hike with this year. I hope it has been helpful and as usual, please let me know of your experiences with them.
Also, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, concerns, corrections or would like me to check anything else out for you.
Until next time
Have fun
Paul
